scansinboy

I have a body fat measuring scale that provides an "Athlete" mode.

I'm about 17-18% body fat in normal mode, but just for kicks i tried the Athlete mode and it registered as 10% body Fat.

What's the difference, and by that I mean, can anybody tell me how the scale computes the Numbers? I know it does so by Bio-electrical impedance or something like that, but what's the difference in calculating the two modes?

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Plan9Senior

Those scales are highly inaccurate and make me laugh. Bodyfat calipers are reliable, not electronic impulse scales.

forseti-6

Bodyfat calipers are reliable, but the only *completely* accurate one is the water displacement test. I've never actually seen it done before, and I'm sure that's quite a production to conduct.

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FlorentinoAriza

it measures the impendance between your 2 feet, thus measuring the way of the least resistance and not completely taking in account the fat you might have in your love handles and/or beer belly :-)

when i measure myself in the gym , i'm 16 % fat , when I measure myself @ home , i'm between 22 - 26 %, and this can change 1 % in 5 minutes. to use it to check progress is ok, i think. but to use it as an actual measuring tool is a little unreliable.

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Phaenx

I've seen one of those tests being done. I remember someone being in a harness of some sort being lowered into a tub of water.

That said, I need some effing calipers, scales are retarded.

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cait987

Plan is right, body fat scales are completely unaccurate and will never really give you the results you want to see. I have one and made a post just like this a little while ago pretty much, honestly, the best way to see your progress is measure around your chest and just watch your progress, im getting some calipers soon mainly because the scale is so unaccurate it makes me want to cry

Its so easy to screw up also, I can change my body fat by 5% in either direction just by breathing different and other things like that. Its good to get a minor estimation on results but if your body fat goes up instead of down but you lose weight and feel better, ignore the body fat.

I can step on it some days and be 19% BF and other days its up to 27% BF, mainly because, I lift weights run etc and my muscles are never 100% hydrated, it may give a accurate reading for someone who doesnt sweat much but getting your muscles 100% hydrated when you should be working out nearly all week is pretty tough.

alec

commpletely unnaccurate? unpossible

jfreels

Athlete mode should be used if you have a low resting heart rate, it will effect the outcome. Also, caliper tests are not much more accurate. If they are not done by the same exact person in the same exact places with the same pinch then they can be very inacurate.

I would ether pay for hydrostatic testing ($45 around here) or just use mybodycomp.com. Mybodycomp is just as inaccurate as any of the other methods, but that doesn't matter...as long as you are on the correct track. Your BF scale may say 17% or whatever, but as long as that number keeps going down then you are on the right track.

If you really want to know your bf then do the hydrostatic testing.

Plan9Senior

Actually thats not exactly true. Bodyfat calipers are much more accurate then electronic scales, and almost as accurate as water testing. Mybodycomp measurement method is more accurate then electronic scales, but it still isn't as accurate as a bodyfat caliper. Trust me, I do this for a living and have to test everybody who I help so I slightly know what I am talking about when it comes to bodyfat and how to accurately test it.

Save the $50 on a water test and spend $12 on some calipers that you can use forever. The caliper's accuracy is withing 1 percent of underwater weighing results.

scansinboy

Thanks all, but none of this answers my question. I still would like to know the difference between how a scale computes BF in normal and Athelete mode. If no one knows how it's computed, then that's ok.
You see, I already HAVE the scale, so telling me they are inaccurate isn't going to do much. Since I've started using it, I've watched my BF% go from about 26% down to roughly 17%. I already know that I can measure myself twice in 30 seconds and get slightly different readings, both in weight by as much as a half pound and BF by as much as 1%. I'm not looking for extreme precision here, I just want some basic information as to how it does it's calculations.
Thanks.

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jfreels

As do I know what I am talking about considering I have done all said methods. My body comp is about the LEAST accurate because it doesn't take into acount muscle size for very large body builders. Calipers are SH!T for people that have lost A TON of weight because they still store a moderate amount of fat still in their belly even at 19%bf and it will NOT be accurate because their arms and legs will be very lean (in my case so I am speaking from experience).

Scales are not so bad, but here is a test. Get on your scale and do the test then drink a glass of water then test again. It will change..sh!t, just brushing your teeth will make the value change. But either way it doesn't matter as long as you do it first thing in the morning same time and then you can get a good estimate.

As for the calipers again, they have to be done in the exact same place the exact same way or the results will be inacurate.

BTW, do you have any suggestions for personal trainer certifications? I was thinking about ACE and ISSA. ISSA being my cert of choice because I want to get a youth cert so I can work with children.

Feel free to "SHE BANG" everything I just said, but I speak from experience too, and I know for a fact hydrostatic testing is the most accurate method.

-jb

Blackthorn

I have a Tanita scale and it's fairly accurate for weight but I agree with the rest of the sentiment. It's not all that accurate for measuring bodyfat percentage.

As for your real question mine likewise shows a big difference between the two modes you mention. The "athlete" mode registers 10.5%. The (I suppose) sedentary mode shows 18.5%. These percentages can also vary from minute to minute as others have posted.

The calipers register 8%. I haven't tried the water displacement because I'm not all that interested in it. I know I'm less than 10% after climbing at one point to being over 20%. I now feel good and look good (even though I have a face made for radio) and that's all that matters to me.

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heyhey

i've used a taneta scale but doens't seem accurate to me. within a week a get 3 or 4 different readings.

try the "too tight pant" test....get an old pair of jeans that don't fit you anymore because they are too tight...start eating better and exercising....every week keep trying to put the pants on...as they get easier to get into you will know you are losing body fat.

BigBlueWrecking

I use a tape measure. It does not give me a percentage, but it tells me if I am losing (or gaining is some spots) mass. Obviousle I am looking for fewer inches around the waist...but more around the chest and arms.

This works if you are trying to lose weight, but if you are really worried about body fat % get the calipers.

Cowman

Just think about it for a minute..Jeez.. "ATHLETE MODE". Obviously, if you're an athlete and you're 5'11 180 pounds, you're going to have a lower body fat then a normal person who only gets limited excercise and is 5'11 180 pounds. So, when you pick athlete mode, the scale does *something*(im not a technician, I don't know what) to make up for that difference.

Sheesh

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WarWagon

There is likely a correction factor built in as a given amount of muscle weighs more than the same amount of fat. Muscle is firmer, takes up less room, and is denser. Unfortunately for me, I have a very large amount of muscle, but just as much fat ;-)